Reset Epson L396 Access

How to Reset an Epson L396: The Complete Guide to Fixing Ink & Error Lights

If you own an Epson EcoTank L396, you already know its main advantage: high-volume printing with low running costs thanks to the refillable ink tanks. However, like all printers, the Epson L396 is susceptible to two major headaches that often require a reset:

  1. Ink Pad Counter (Service Required) Error – Flashing lights and a message that says parts are at the end of their life.
  2. Refilling Issues – The printer doesn’t recognize that you’ve refilled the tanks.

In this guide, we will walk you through every possible method to reset your Epson L396, from simple button sequences to using advanced resetter tools. By the end, you’ll save money on repairs and extend the life of your printer.

Q5: The reset worked, but the error came back after a week.

Two possibilities:

  1. You have a massive ink leak – check pads immediately.
  2. You only reset one counter (e.g., main pad) but not the platen pad. Run the reset again and ensure all counters are initialized.

The Ink Pad Counter

Inside your Epson L396, there’s a spongy component called the maintenance box or ink pad. Its job is to absorb excess ink produced during print head cleaning, borderless printing, and power flushing. Epson engineers programmed a counter that tracks how much ink the pad has absorbed.

Once the counter hits a predefined limit (e.g., 100% usage), the printer stops working. This is not a malfunction. Epson designed this to prevent ink from spilling inside your printer. reset epson l396

However, in many cases, the ink pad is not actually full. Epson sets the limit very conservatively. This means you can often reset the counter and keep printing for months or years longer.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Turn off the Epson L396 using the power button.
  2. Wait 30 seconds – Disconnect the power cord from the back of the printer AND from the wall outlet.
  3. Press and hold the power button on the printer for 15 seconds (while unplugged) – this drains residual electricity from the capacitors.
  4. Plug the printer back in and turn it on.
  5. Perform a nozzle check: Go to Setup > Maintenance > Nozzle Check. This often forces the printer to re-read ink levels.

Result: In 70% of cases, the printer will correctly update the ink levels.

Part 1: Understanding the “Reset” Error on Epson L396

Before you rush to reset your Epson L396, you need to understand why this error appears.

Part 5: Why Free Button Resets Do NOT Work on L396

You might find YouTube videos titled “Reset Epson L396 without software” showing button combinations like: How to Reset an Epson L396: The Complete

These are myths. The Epson L396 does not have a secret button sequence to reset the waste ink counter. Those videos usually show:

Save your time – you cannot reset the service counter without software or a tool.

Steps Using WIC Reset Utility (easiest for home users):

  1. Download WIC Reset Utility from a trusted source (e.g., wicreset.com).
  2. Install & run as administrator.
  3. Connect printer via USB, turn it on.
  4. In the utility, click Reset Waste Ink Counters.
  5. You may need to purchase reset key (often ~$10) or use limited free trial.
  6. Once reset, turn printer off/on.

Note: Resetting without replacing the waste ink pad may cause ink leakage. You should physically clean/replace the pad inside.

Method 2: Hardware Resetter Dongle (For Non-Windows Users)

If you don’t have a PC or find the software too complex, buy a USB resetter dongle for the Epson L396 (eBay, Amazon, AliExpress – $5–$10). Ink Pad Counter (Service Required) Error – Flashing

Instructions:

  1. Turn off the printer.
  2. Plug the resetter dongle into the USB port on the front of the printer.
  3. Turn on the printer while pressing the “Reset” button on the dongle (if it has one) or simply let the dongle auto-detect.
  4. Wait for the LED on the dongle to turn green or stop flashing.
  5. Remove the dongle and restart the printer.

This is the simplest method, but the dongle is specific to the L396 – it may not work on other models.

Method 2: Epson Adjustment Program (For Advanced Users)

The Epson Adjustment Program (also called AdjProg) is the official service tool. It’s harder to find but completely free.

Steps:

  1. Search for “Epson Adjustment Program for L396” or “L396 AdjProg download.”
  2. Disable your antivirus (temporarily) – the program is often flagged as a hacktool, but it’s safe if from a trusted source.
  3. Run AdjProg.exe as Administrator.
  4. Select “Epson L396” from the model list.
  5. Go to “Particular adjustment mode” → “Waste ink pad counter”.
  6. Check the boxes for “Main pad counter” and “Platen pad counter” (if available).
  7. Click “Check” (to read current values) then “Initialization” to reset.
  8. Turn the printer off/on.

Warning: Changing other settings in AdjProg (like head ID or EEPROM) can permanently damage your printer. Only touch the waste ink counter.